Frances V M Ryan – Artist
Explore the vibrant world of my mixed heritage, where memories of England and Jamaica intertwine in a symphony of colour, light, and natural forms.
Discover My Art
About me
I'm a mixed race artist of Jamaican and English heritage.
My first series is based on themes of family and loss, where I explore the meaning of a new identity. My second series draws strongly on memories of Jamaica, where I grew up - the vibrant colours, light and space.
My paintings evolve quite intuitively; figurative elements are interwoven with natural forms, birds and animals.
In some of my paintings, I use abstract forms to express underlying meaning. For instance, in 'Hummingbirds', I have used oval shapes which symbolise both constraint and safety.
The lyrical forms and fishes in 'Wonderland' evoke a magical space and a sense of movement.
My journey began with a Fine Art degree specialising in ceramics from Portsmouth Polytechnic in 1978.
I then obtained an Art Teacher's certificate from Brighton Polytechnic.
For decades, I balanced teaching, raising a family, and creating ceramics. In 1994, I furthered my education with an MA in English and Education from Loughborough University. In 2020, I discovered a new passion for oil painting, studying under Martin Kinnear at the Norfolk Painting School. Since then, my work has been featured in group exhibitions with Artspace, Deda, The Sock Gallery, Loughborough, the Nottingham Society of Arts and LCB Depot, Leicester.
Discover my art:
Jamaican Memories
Ritual forms
Both of these paintings above are showcased in the Spirit to Matter exhibition at LCB Depot, 28th October to 22nd November 2024. The rich colours glow in the darkness, evoking a magical atmosphere as the forms emerge into the light.
'Art channels ideas into form; art manifests stories into culture; art reflects the divine in humanity.'
Plein air
Expressive figures
Interested in my art?
Bubbles
Oil on canvas
Dancers
Oil on canvas
Hummingbirds
Oil on canvas
All my works, including the examples above, are available for sale. If you're interested in purchasing one of my artworks or for a unique commission, please get in touch:
Get in Touch